David Andrews about to Sign Extension

[Ivan]

This goes to show that bb loves the kid.

Any thought of upgrading Andrews is effectively over.

However we can still hope that mason improves as a pass blocker or karras/Garcia can slide into that spot,

I think he really likes Andrews but if Belichick sees an opportunity for competition or an upgrade he will still do it. Just look at WR, they just won a Super Bowl with their current unit but Belichick still spent a 1st on Cooks. If he sees a great Center prospect sitting there when he's picking next draft I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him take them, after all, he called Stork a " once in decade" center but still went hard after Andrews.

 

[mgteich]

If he sees a great Center prospect sitting there when he's picking next draft I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him take them, after all, he called Stork a " once in decade" center but still went hard after Andrews.

Is your argument that Belichick might target UDFA's centers in the future?

 

[Ivan]

Is your argument that Belichick might target UDFA's centers in the future?

Nope, simply that if Belichick sees the opportunity to bring in competition or upgrade he will do even if it appears that they are set at a position or on a unit. Nothing reflects his " no days off" mentality more than his roster building.

 

[50-yard-line]

Nope, simply that if Belichick sees the opportunity to bring in competition or upgrade he will do even if it appears that they are set at a position or on a unit. Nothing reflects his " no days off" mentality more than his roster building.

Agreed, and also agreed that this doesn't guarantee Andrews the starting position and doesn't rule out a vet being brought in. Right on the side of this page is the report that the Pats had targeted C/G Dan Feeney at 72, but he got taken at 71 by SD.

This is a good deal, for Andrews and for the Pats.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed, and also agreed that this doesn't guarantee Andrews the starting position and doesn't rule out a vet being brought in. Right on the side of this page is the report that the Pats had targeted C/G Dan Feeney at 72, but he got taken at 71 by SD.

This is a good deal, for Andrews and for the Pats.

Sure. Andrews is an important part of the future of the OL, as a starter or as a backup.

 

[zipster9]

BTW - If Andrews gets hurt and cannot play, who is the backup Center?

 

[mgteich]

BTW - If Andrews gets hurt and cannot play, who is the backup Center?

As was the case last year, Karras is the backup center.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed, and also agreed that this doesn't guarantee Andrews the starting position and doesn't rule out a vet being brought in. Right on the side of this page is the report that the Pats had targeted C/G Dan Feeney at 72, but he got taken at 71 by SD.

This is a good deal, for Andrews and for the Pats.

I wanted Eiflein, the best center in the country. He was chosen at 70.

So, yes, it was time to trade down from 72, after having chosen not to move up. I think that MINN traded up to 70.

 

[captain stone]

As was the case last year, Karras is the backup center...

…who has never snapped a football anywhere during any season.

 

[Biffins]

@Biffins - And just what do you disagree with? Because, unlike you, I can and did support my opinion with facts..

Sure. Here's facts.

Patriots’ flaws were exposed - The Boston Globe

"The biggest wrinkle the Texans showed was using their outside pass rushers on the inside. Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus moved all over the formation, often lining up in a 2-point stance, but their biggest damage came when both were lined up across from interior offensive linemen.

By lining up the two players next to each other, the Texans were able to get a 1-on-1 matchup for Mercilus on center David Andrews, and Mercilus beat him badly for two sacks with his power and speed. The Texans often brought their defenders through the same gaps, like when linebacker Brian Cushing blitzed right behind Clowney and pressured Tom Brady into a modest 4-yard completion to Martellus Bennett. Overall, the Patriots’ interior offensive line of Andrews, Joe Thuney, and Shaq Mason combined to allow four pressures, two hits, two sacks, and a run stuff."

 

[50-yard-line]

Sure. Here's facts.

Patriots’ flaws were exposed - The Boston Globe

"The biggest wrinkle the Texans showed was using their outside pass rushers on the inside. Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus moved all over the formation, often lining up in a 2-point stance, but their biggest damage came when both were lined up across from interior offensive linemen.

By lining up the two players next to each other, the Texans were able to get a 1-on-1 matchup for Mercilus on center David Andrews, and Mercilus beat him badly for two sacks with his power and speed. The Texans often brought their defenders through the same gaps, like when linebacker Brian Cushing blitzed right behind Clowney and pressured Tom Brady into a modest 4-yard completion to Martellus Bennett. Overall, the Patriots’ interior offensive line of Andrews, Joe Thuney, and Shaq Mason combined to allow four pressures, two hits, two sacks, and a run stuff."

You know what else the Texans did? THey held receivers on every damned play, and got away with a lot of it (and got called repeatedly, as well).

 

[maineman209]

I think even though one could argue that the Andrews signing may appear a bit on the team friendly side, it still makes him the 11th highest paid center in the NFL on an average annual value basis.

Someone needs to pass that message along to Banner. Hopefully, we make him eat his words with the Rowe situation, too. He certainly showed some promise last year, but would need a solid year to justify the 3rd round trade, in my opinion.

IIRC, the cost for Rowe is a 4th-rounder unless he plays over 50% of the defensive snaps in 2017.

 

[maineman209]

Andrews got destroyed in the playoff game against Houston. They moved their edge rushers to the middle specifically to exploit the weakness in the OL that is Andrews.

Here's the thing. When a team re-arranges its resources to put an extra focus on a perceived weakness, they can often win that specific battle without winning the game.

 

[maineman209]

…who has never snapped a football anywhere during any season.

Except possibly in practice.

 

[maineman209]

BTW - If Andrews gets hurt and cannot play, who is the backup Center?

No way to know, at this point who might be the primary backup center for 2017 - at least not until we begin to hear Camp practice reports from Reiss, et al, as to who besides Andrews is getting snaps.

For 2016, it may have been either Mason or Karras. It would need to have been someone who was active for all 16 games, and both of them were.

 

[Nehalem]

I wanted Eiflein, the best center in the country. He was chosen at 70.

So, yes, it was time to trade down from 72, after having chosen not to move up. I think that MINN traded up to 70.

"Undersized" David Andrews was 6'2.5 295 pounds, 27 bp reps when drafted.
Best center in the country Matt Eiflein was 6'3 303 pounds, 22 BP reps.

Makes me feel a little better about Andrews.

 

[captain stone]

Except possibly in practice.

Let's hope so. I still prefer to have backups to young starters to have actual NFL experience at the position.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Karras played both LG and RG in preseason since that's where injuries were, but it was pretty clear that he proved to the coaches in camp that he can hold down the fort at C. There were several articles about how the coaches liked Karras for his versatility in playing "any interior position on the OL".

One is here: Versatility helped lineman Ted Karras stick with Patriots - The Boston Globe

 

[maineman209]

Let's hope so. I still prefer to have backups to young starters to have actual NFL experience at the position.

OTOH, Scar consistently cross-trains Guards at Center and that's worked out fine for the Pats in the past.

 

[maineman209]

"Undersized" David Andrews was 6'2.5 295 pounds, 27 bp reps when drafted.
Best center in the country Matt Eiflein was 6'3 303 pounds, 22 BP reps.

Makes me feel a little better about Andrews.

Having Scar as their coach make me feel a LOT better about all of the OL guys.